Santa Fe, New Mexico

Life in Santa Fe, New Mexico, explained by people who’ve lived in Santa Fe:

*Response format = Answer (Your name, How long you’ve lived in Santa Fe)

Santa Fe Favorites

What’s your favorite thing about living in Santa Fe?

What’s your least favorite thing about living in Santa Fe?

The drivers. (Tia, 5 months)
There’s not much housing that’s walking-distance from stores/restaurants. (Blake, 1 year)
Tough to meet friends my age. (Amy, 3 years)
Drugs, the homeless. (Ashley, 12 years)
Work and DWIs. (Ana, 15 years)
Prejudice. (Jeri, 35 years)
The displacement of local families who can no longer afford to live here. (Betty, 38 years)
The parking. (Audrey, 40 years)
Nothing for our children or youth. (Lewanna, 40 years)
Lack of things to do as a family. (John, 42 years)

What are fun things to do in Santa Fe?

The Plaza, hike, museums, art, and music. (Tia, 5 months)
Hiking, walking tours, museums. (Blake, 1 year)
Site Santa Fe, hiking, biking, skiing, snowboarding, eating, drinking, movies. (Amy, 3 years)
There isn’t anything, eat new Mexican food. (Ashley, 12 years)
Go to the mall in the park. Santa Fe really doesn’t have many excitements. (Ana, 15 years)
Tours, hikes, downtown and Meow Wolf! (Jeri, 35 years)
Too many to name. (Betty, 38 years)
Dine. (Audrey, 40 years)
Museums, movies, bike rides, sports. (John, 42 years)

What’s Santa Fe known for?

What’s the crime like in Santa Fe? (hot spot areas, etc.)

Iffy, New Mexico in general is bad. (Tia, 5 months)
I haven’t experienced any, but airport road and St Michaels have bad reputations. (Blake, 1 year)
Totally safe. (Amy, 3 years)
Drug addicts break into houses a lot. (Ashley, 12 years)
Bad. (Ana, 15 years)
There seems to be no particular “Hot Spot!” Apparently, all classes are fair game! (Jeri, 35 years)
It pays better than most jobs around here. (Betty, 38 years)
Bad. (Audrey, 40 years)
Medium. (Lewanna, 40 years)
Relatively low. (John, 42 years)

Any advice for people moving to Santa Fe?

It’s going to take a while to find a full time job. (Tia, 5 months)
Just go out a lot and you will meet new people. (Blake, 1 year)
Don’t. (Ashley, 12 years)
Small town. A lot of gossip. A lot of drug addicts. Schools have bad learning system. (Ana, 15 years)
We are a diverse, loving people but we also have diverse opinions! (Jeri, 35 years)
Please don’t. (Betty, 38 years)
Have lots of money. (Audrey, 40 years)
If you’re in to the tourist attraction you will love it. (Lewanna, 40 years)
Don’t. (John, 42 years)

Share an experience you’ve had in Santa Fe (fun, crazy, dangerous, etc.).

My wife has lived here for ages. (Tia, 5 months)
I met a couple from Turkey who invited me over for dinner. (Blake, 1 year)
Fun nights at the plaza. (Ashley, 12 years)
Had my four kids here. That’s about it. (Ana, 15 years)
Too many to say. (Betty, 38 years)
Fiestas 1989, broke out in hives walking to Zozobra. (Audrey, 40 years)
Working as a background actor on numerous film and TV projects. (John, 42 years)

How do you think Santa Fe will change over the next 10 years?

More development. (Tia, 5 months)
The demographics are shifting. I’m hoping to see more development and hopefully more young professionals. (Blake, 1 year)
I hope it won’t fall prey to urban sprawl. (Amy, 3 years)
Worsen in drugs. (Ashley, 12 years)
Probably get worse. (Ana, 15 years)
Unattainable, except for the very wealthy. (Betty, 38 years)
More crowded and locals will be living elsewhere. (Audrey, 40 years)
More businesses more protesting projects that will be beneficial to Santa Fe. (Lewanna, 40 years)

Any other interesting facts about Santa Fe?

It’s a really old capitol. I believe the oldest in America. (Tia, 5 months)
Santa Fe has the oldest church in the US. (Blake, 1 year)
Go to the Plaza and buy original, handmade jewelry at the Palace of the Governors from local, certified Native American tribes. (Jeri, 35 years)
State Capitol. (Audrey, 40 years)
Too many galleries, not enough great art. (John, 42 years)